Notes from "Choosing Books for Kids" Panel Discussion

Mara Edler, Susan Bedell, and Carol Elbert (left to right) talk about their criteria for choosing books

On September 11 an independent bookseller, a school librarian, and a public librarian told SCBWI members in Ames, Iowa, how they choose books for their respective "customers." Following are a few notes from the discussion.

Bookseller, Susan Bedell

Susan Bedell, manager of Big Table Books, 330 Main St., Ames, Iowa, has 10 years experience with Big Table. Here are a few of the things she had to say:

• 75% of the books she reads are kids' books
• for picture books, she says it's easy to weed out the junk (that's published), but it's harder to do that with chapter books when all she has to go on is a bit of copy in a publisher's catalog
• "if I don't have the patience to read a picture book, no child will"
• "adults should love picture books too" especially if they have to read them over and over
• she stocks authors she knows immediately but is willing to take risks on new authors
• says the best publisher sales reps read many chapter books and will tell her what they think is "terrible"
• she gives hard cover books 3-6 months of shelf life, paperbacks a year

School Librarian, Mara Edler

Mara Edler is in her second year as a school librarian with the West Marshall Schools (K-8) in State Center, Iowa. Before that she worked for four years as her town's public librarian. Mara's comments:

• buys few things without checking reviews first
• has $5,000 annual budget, which must accommodate teacher requests
• student requests also listened to
• 90% of her purchases are new material
• students and faculty gravitate to the new book section
• middle school kids need interesting non-fiction
• elem. kids like photos and realistic illustrations in non-fiction

Public Librarian, Carol Elbert

Carol Elbert, youth services librarian with the Ames Public Library, Ames, Iowa, is retiring at the end of this year after 29 years. Carol's comments:

• $47,000 annual budget with 20% spent on non-print (audio, DVDs), 10% on duplicates and replacements, 70% on new print materials for pre-k through middle school
• relies heavily on review journals including Horn Book, Booklist, School Library Journal, and the Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books
• thinks part of Harry Potter's popularity came from kid word of mouth
• says that what's big in book stores will be asked for at the library

Harvesting Success in Children's Literature

Check out the SCBWI-Iowa chapter's conference October 22-24 in Iowa City. Speakers include Carolyn P. Yoder, senior editor with Highlights, and Cheryl Klein, associate editor with Arthur A. Levine Books. See the conference web page for other speaker info, agenda, and registration info.